There's a few benefits. It has a drain plug(cleaner, easier, faster services). It is finned aluminum so it dissipates heat better(both due to being finned and also due to being aluminum; Aluminum dissipates heat faster than steel, and with the fins there's more surface area in contact with the air). Also it holds 3+ extra quarts of fluid(the heat is spread out over more fluid, therefore it stays cooler). The last benefit is that since it is much thicker/bulkier it has no flex at the flange when tightening down and provides a better seal against the gasket.